Cellular dirigible airship



March l1 1924. 1,486,399

s. v. TRENT v CELLULAR DIRIGIBLE AIRSHIP Filed March :51. 19'21 4 sheets-sheet x 'March 11 1924; 1,486,399`

S. V. TRENT CELLULAR DIRIGIBLE AIRsHIP Filed March 5l. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 --L gli March 11 1924.

S. V. TRENT CELLULAR DIRIGIBLE AIRSHIP Filed March 31 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Mann '11 1924.`

S. V.4 TRENT CELLULAR DIRIGIBLE AIRSHIP Filed Marchy 31I 1921 .Illll 4 5 State of 'raieaiea naar. n, ieee.

CELLULAR DIRIGIBLE AIRSHIP.

Application led March 31, 1921. Serial No. 457,227.

To U77 whomy 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, SrMnoN V. TRENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and `Utah, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cellular Dirigible Airships, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates generally to air craft, and more particularlyto that type of airship having au elongated cellular body. the framework of which is substantially rigid and the cells or chambers within the body structure being provided with containers for that is utilized as the lifting medium and containers for air that is utilized 'as ballast..

The principal objects of my invention are, to generally improve upon and simplify the construction of the existing forms of air craft of the particular type to which my invention relates, to provide an improved form of skeleton framework for air craft, said framework being of the rigid structure type, thereby materially increasing the strength and stability of the craft and consequently increasing the factor of safety in operation, and, at the same time, materially decreasing weight and minimizing the cost of construction.

Further objects of my invention are, to provide an improved form of airship frame work wherein all the principal stresses are concentrated upon a centrally arranged longitudinally extending box girder that is particularly designed for the effective resistance of all compression and tensile stresses, and which includes a pair of substantially parallel trusses rigidly connected to each other and said trusses having depending integral portions that serve as a framework for supporting the operating and controlling mechanism of the airship, to provide in the skelew gas ton framework a series of compartments or chambers that are adapted to receive gas containers and which latter correspond in form and size with the chambers or compartments, thereby utilizing practically all the space within the cellular body, to provide relatively simple and efficient means in the form or non-combustible partitions that are disposed between the gas container comi partments so as to bulkhead each gas container from the next adjacent containers, to provide within the framework a plurality of sets of centrally arranged containers for air or gas, thereby providing for additional gasn capacity or for air ballast, to provide means for controlling the airballast so as to quickly and accurately change or shift the position of the body of the ship through a. vertical plane so as to control the trim of the ship and to cause the same to ascend or descend during forward flight, to construct the air containers in the form of selfdelating bags with the inlet and outlet open-y ings in the bottoms thereof in order that said bags or containers may readily expel the air that has been forced into them for ballast, to provide an airship wherein the hull or body structure is given stream line form as a result of uniform contraction of the cross-sectional area of the bodyfrom bow to stern, and further, to provide an airship hull i having semi-circular sides and with flattened top and bottom, thus producing a hull or body having the `form of an oblate spheroid in cross section, and which form reduces the vertical dimension of the body and relatively increases its breadth or beam.

A further object of my invention is to provide relatively simple and efficient means for controlling the airship while the same is ascending, while in flight and while descending and landing.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain new and novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an airship of my improved construction. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken lengthwise through the center of the body of the airship.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the airship. l Fig.' 4 is an enlarged cross section taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a. horizontal section taken approXimately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a side elevatigial View of one of the twin trusses of the box girder that forms the main longitudinal memberl of the framework of the airship.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional proximately through the center of the skeleton framework of my improved airship. y Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic View of the banks or vsets of air and gas containers that are utilized in the cellular frame of my improved airship, and also showing the pumps that are utilized for handling the air 4and gas in said containers.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of one of the joints utilized for connecting the tubular members of the vframework of the airship.

Igig. 10 is a top plan view proximately on the line 11-11 of Fig. 9.l

Fig. 12 is a plan view partly in section of a modified form of the joint.

` Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line lit-13 of Fig. 12.

In the construction of the frame of my improved airship, l mak-e use of a. centrally arranged longitudinally disposed boX girder that is of skeleton construction and which forms the backbone or main member of ofthe j oint.)

vthe entire structure` and said main frame member or box girder comprises a pair of "critically dlsposed longltudlnally eXtending trusses, one-of which 1s illustrated 1n l Fig. 6.

Each truss is composed of a plurality of longitudinally extending members 10, preferably spaced at equal distances apart, a series of vertically disposed members 11 certain of which, at the center of the truss, are extended downwardly as designated by 11, and these downwardly extending vertical members combine with longitudinally disposed members 10a in forming an integral depending framework that cooperates with the corresponding depending framework of the companion truss in forming a skeleton structure for the support ot` the operating and control mechanism.

The members 10 and 11 at the. forward end of each truss structure are arranged so as to produce a pointed forward end such as 12.

The longitudinal members 10 and 10a of each truss and the vertical members l1 and 11a, are preferably formed of metal tubing in sections. and theadjacent ends of the sections are rigidly connected in any desired manner. but preferably by means of an improved joint structure that I have devised and which is illustrated in Figs. 9 to 13. inclusive. This joint member, which, as a whole. will be designated by thenumeral 13, includes an internal member or bushing 1 4 that corresponds in shape to that of the completed joint` and the legs or projections of this internal member are formed so .that

view taken apinternal membervor bushino g. 11 is a horizontal section taken apor bolts such as 24.

meeste they will snugly lit in the end portions of the tubular frame members that are to be united.. i

members or those portions that inclose the D, is a sectionall preferably a pair of plates such as 15 and which are provided on their inner faces with seats 16 which snugly receive the end portionsof the frame members.

The plates or members 15 are rigidly secured to each other in anyv suitable manner, preferably by means of screws or bolts such or divided member,

4 as 17 and said plates being lperforated as des-- igna-ted by 18 in order to receive the' end portions of stays or reinforced ymembers such as tie wires or braces.

In order to lirmly sec-ure the frame members, the internal member or bushing and the inclosing members, to each other, pins such as 19 are inserted through said inclosing members, the frame members and the` Applied to the end portions ofl the frame I portions of the legs or projections of the internal member or bushing. A

By virtue of the construction just described. a. very strong and substantial jomt is produced between the adjacent ends of* the members that'make up vthe trusses and side portions of the frame of my improved airship. and which joint structure is rela.- tively strong without material increase in weight.

In the modified form of joint structure illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13, a short tubular joint member such as 20 has its end pon' tions 21 reduced in diameter, and these reduced portions are seated in the adjacent ends of a pair of the frame members. and enclosing the ends of the frame members and the'inserted ends of the joint members, are clamping bands 23, each of which is preferably made in two partsthat are joined together to clamp the engaged frame memby means of screws ber and joint member The projeeting end portions the clamp members are provided with apertures 25 p that are adapted to receive tie members o-r braces. To rigidlysecure the parts of this form of joint member to each other, pins such as 26 are inserted through the end portions of the frame members, through the clamping members'23 and through the inserted end portions 21 of the tubular joint member.

To reinforce each truss member of the framework. intermediate ties or braces such as 27 are. disposed between the vertical members 11 and `connected to the longitudinally disposed members10.and a. further-reinforcement 1s provided by arranging diagonally disposed'tie 'wires or braces such as j 28 between the joint members 13 that connect the members `10-,and 11, and this same iassgeee reinforcing and st-rengthening arrangement is carried out in the depending' portion of' each truss, and which includes the parts 10v each other by suitably arranged transverse tie members '29, the ends thereof being secured to the truss forming members by joint structures 13, as described, and these transverse tie members being preferably spaced at equal distances apart vthroughout the lengths of the trusses and the spaces between said tie members forming substantially rectangular pockets or chambers 30 that are adapted to be occupied by collapsible containers that may be 4fille-d with air to serve as ballast while the airship is in operation.

The pair of trusses constructed as j ust described and tied together throughout their Vas lengths by the members 29 constitutes a box girder, and as the same is centrally arranged and extends lengthwise of the completed structure, it forms a. strong and rigidpbackbone or skeleton framework that 'is effective in resisting all compression and tensile stresses that-may be deflected while the airship is in service.

The ends of vertically disposed semi-circus lar ribs 31, preferably formed of metal tubing, are connected by joint members 1.3 to

the upper and lowermost members 10 of each truss, and these ribs are preferably located in transverse alinement with the tie members 29.

Each rib 31 is connected at intermediate points by horizontally disposed braces or tie members such as 32 to the corresponding vertical members 11- of the adjacent truss, and the intermediate portions of said braces or members 32 are connected by vertical ties or braces 33 and the ends of which latter are connected to the ribs 31.

Members 32 and 33 are connected to each other, tothe ribs 31 and to the truss forming members, by the hereinbefore described joint members 13, and said joint members are preferably tied to each other by suitable diagnal braces or tie wires such as 34.

Secured to ribs 31 preferably by joint.

members such as 13, are longitudinally disposed frame members 35, preferably formed of metal tubing, the same extending the entirev length of the trusses forming the centrally arranged box girder and the for-` ward ends of these longitudinally extending members are suitably connected to the parts of the frame that form the pointed forward ends 12 of said trusses.

The spaces 36 between the centrally arranged boX girder and the ribs 31 and the transverse skeleton structures comprising the members 32and 33, form -vertically dis- ,3G is inclosed by wall structures 37, the

same being preferably formed of reticulated material such as wire netting combined with sheets of asbestos or like-,lireproof material..

Thus, practically the entire space between the sides of the box girder and the ribs 3l and longitudinally disposed members 35, is divided into a series of gas bag chambers Aor pockets and the latter are provided with ireproof walls that serve to protect the bags positioned iny said pockets, and likewise, to elfectually isolate said bags from each other in the event of lire in any one pocket or compartment.

The reinforced ireproof walls 37 are preferably tied by means of wires to the adjacent members of the framework, and such construction serves to materially reinforce and stiftenl said framework.

Arranged in each compartment 36 and within the reinforced fircproof walls inclosing the same, is a vertically-disposed semicircular container 38 that is preferably formed of rubberized fabric'or liexible material that will contain gas and the lower end of each bag or container is provided with a tubular member 39 that projects vhorizontally outward into the lower portion of thc space between the trusses of the box girder, and said tubular members serving as an inlet and outlet for the gas that is delivered to and withdrawn from the con- 'tainern 'upper portion of the bag to the adjacent framework, said upper portion will, when the valve controlling outlet 39 is opened, collapse or move downwardly into the lower portion of the bag, thereby effecting a discharge of `practically all the gas contained therein. 'i

The entire series of gas bags or containers 38 are divided into two or more sets of banks, and in Fig. 8 l have shown said bags or containers divided into three.y banks or sets, .A, B and C, sucharrangement being carried out in order to more readily control the disposition of the entire volume of gas utilized for lifting and sustaining the airship, and, as illustrated, the tubularimembers 39 at the lower-ends of all of the bags or containers are connected,.by branch pipes a neeaeee 41, to a main lgas supply pipe 42 and each branch pipe being provided with an ordinary stop or cut-oli' valve 43 :and with a check `valve Arranged in the lower' portion of each pocket orchamber 30 within the box girder is a horizontally disposed plate or platform 45 upon which rests the lower end of a collapsible bag 46 that is formed of rubberized fabric or analogous material and which is .adapted yto contain air under pressure 'and which yis utilized as ballast for the airship. Each collapsible bag' or container is provided yat its `corners with loops such as 47, fand Ithe latter Iare arranged to'slide freely upon guide rods 48 that project upwardly from the corners of said platform and the upper ends of said rods being supported in .any .suitable manner.

Arranged on top of each air bag or container 46 is a flat plate 49 that serves as a 'weight to fully collapse a bag when the Vent at .the bottom thereof is opened, and said weight is "provided with perforated ears 50 that are arranged to slide'upon the rods 48.y

. Leading from the lower end of each airy bag or 4container is a tube 51, andthe entire series of these tubes are connected to branch tubes 52, that, in turn, are connected to a secondary 'supply pipey 53, and which latter is connected to a primary supply pipe The entire series of air bags or'containers is divided into two or more sets or banks, as illustrated in Fig. 8, in order to more readily control the disposition of the entire volume of air taken into said bags as ballast.

Each pipe 52. is provided with an ordinary stop or cut-off valve 55, and supply pipes 53 and 54 are provided with suitably located cut-od' and check valves.

Gas supply pipe 42 and air supply pipe 54 are directly connected to each other, and by means of branch pipes 55, these pipes are connected to a pair of fans or compressors 56. Leading to the latter is a supply pipe 57 that is adapted to conduct air or gas to either one of said fans or compressors. Two fans or compressors are provided in order to have one in reserve in the event that the one under operation becomes broken or otherwise inoperative.

The fans orv compressors may be driven in any suitable manner, preferably by motors such as 58.

Pipes 42, 54, 55 and 57 are provided with suitably located check l and stop valves to control the passage of air and gas through said pipes. 7

Arranged between the de ending portions of the trusses are horizonte yl disposed plat` forms59 and which divide the space between said depending portions into cham- 'bers that are adapted to accommodate the crew and passengers of theairship, as well as the operating and control mechanisms, fuel and the like; and preferably located on the -lowermost platform, are suitable motors (not shown) that are arranged to drive propellers 60 that are- 'positioned at both ends of the depending Y portion of the airship. (See Fig. 3.) f

The entire depending structure of the airship just described may be suitably housedl in to form closed cabins, and the outer walls of the various compartments in said cabin structure may be provided with suitably located doors and windows.

Arranged beneath the depending cabin structure is a series of transversely disposed axles 61 that carry relatively small heavy traction wheels 62, the same providing a rolling support for the airship while the latter is upon the ground.

Projecting laterally vfrom the lower portions of the sides of the body of the airship are plane members 63 that may be'slightly curved in cross section and which perform the functions of stabilizers to assist in'maintaining equilibrium of the airship while the same is in Hight. These plane members may be tied to the depending cabin' structure by suitable braces or tie wires 64.

Hinged on horizontal axes to the underside of the body of the airship, in front and to the rear of the cabin structure, are planes 65 that may be utilized for guiding the airship vertically during its forward flight, and which plane members may be swung from one position to another in any suitable manner, preferably, by means of operating connections that extend into the cabin structure.

The rear portion 66 of the body of the airship is constructed in the form of a vertically disposedwedge, and arranged on the outer faces of this wedge-shaped portion, and preferably at a point midway between the top and bottom of the body structure, ar'e horizontally disposed stabilizing planes 6 Arranged on top and bottom of the rear portion of the body of the airship, are vertically disposed stabilizing planes 68, and mounted to swing upon a vertical aXis 69 immediately to the rear of the wedgeshaped rear end of the body of the ship, is a vertically disposed rudder 70 that is operated from the cabin structure by suit-1 able connections; (not shown).

@ne of the pockets or chambers 30 at the center of the body of the airship, and which `is designated by 30a, is not provided with one of the collapsible air ballast bags, and this particular chamber provides a passageway to permit members of the crew to readily ascend from the cabin structure to the top of the body of the airship` and dis- Isuitable railing 71.

meeste posed about the or passageway portion of the The entire body portion of the airship .is provided with a sheath or covering 72 anv which latter may bev of any suitable material, for instance, a relatively fine, lightweight fabric' such Yas silk or linen and which may be treated to render -it waterproof and practically airproof.`

y' lo render my improved airship buoyant, pipe 57 is connected to a suitable sourceof gas supply, and either one of the fans or compressors 56 is operatedvto draw gas from' said source of supply and force it through pipes 55, 42 and 41 into the gas vbags or containers 38. During this fillingV o eration, cut-o valve in pipe 54 must be c osed and all of the stop or cut-od valves 43 in pipe 4l opened.

Thus all of the bags or containers y38 will be filled with gas, the total volume of which is considerably in excess ofthe amount required to lift the airship and its load.

lf desired, one or more of the valves 43 may be closed during the gas filling .operation, thereby cutting out the corresponding bag or bags and leaving the same empty so as to be available to later receive a portion of the gas supply from' the filled bags in event that the total volume of gas expands 'under change of temperature, and thus'the gas supply maintained on the ship can be conserved.

rThe necessary ballast for the ship is provided by filling the bags or containers 46 with air that is compressed to two or more atmospheres, said air being forced into said bags by one of the fans` or compressors 56 `and through pipes 54, 53 and 52.

Obviously, `when air is forced into the bags or containers, the gas connection to pipe 57 must be removedin order to permit air to enter said pipe.

When deflated, the bags will be collapsed under the weight of members 49, and a's the air isfforced into said bags or containers, they will rise and expand within the pockets or chambers 30 until they practica ly fill the same.

By arranging the air ballast bags or containers in sets or banks, as illustrated in Fig. 8, and providing an outlet valve such as 55 for each set or bank, it is possible to manipulate the entire volume of air ballast so as to shift the .weight of the same from one longitudinal point to another throughout the length of the airship and consequently vary the inclination of the ship during its forward flight; and in the event that the air ballast is permitted to exhaust from any one or all of the banks or sets of containers, the collapsed and empty bags can centrally be readily relled by operating the air ump or compressor and properly manipu ating the valves that are located in pipes 52, 53 and 54.

By locating the combined air outlet andl inlet in the bottom of each bag or container 46 and arranging aweight ontop 'of said bag, the complete discharge of air from said bag is insured, and while the bag is being deflated, it will be guided upwardly through its pocket or compartment by the loops 47 which traverse the rods 48,.v

During flight of the airship, the propellers 60 are operated to drive theship forwardly, and during forward flight, the vertical and lateral movements of the ship are guided by manipulation of the planes 65 and rudder 7 0.

By spacing the trusses of the box girder a substantial distance apartv and making the frame portions of the body structure to the sides of ksaid trusses of true semi-circulan shape in cross section, the entire body portion of the airship throughout its length, has the cross section of an oblate spheroid, and this particular form of the body is eective in 'increasing its'sustaining effect while in ight, and at the same time, Vminimizing wind resistance.

v lnasmuch as the space between the trusses gradually decreases'toward their rear ends, the body of the airshipis given a stream line effect throughout its length, and which particular formation is especiallydesirable in air craft of this type.

Obviously, minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved. airship may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described vention, the scope of which 1s set forth in the appended claims.

l claim as my invention:

l. ln an airship, a skeleton framework comprising a pair of trusses connected throughout vtheir lengths to form a box girder, semicircular ribs rigidly connected at both endstothe sides of said box girder, and the spaces between the trusses of the box girder and between said trusses and said ribs being divided into pockets that are adapted to receive collapsiblecontainers for gas and air. e

2 In an airship of the rigid structure type, askeleton framework of sectional constructions, the principal longitudinal member of which' is of boxl girderl construction, located, and extending vertically to the full height of the hull and understructurel so as todivide the hull vertically into two equal semi-circular sections and one central rectangular section, each semicircular section. being sub-divided into a series of equal semi-circular recesses, and

` the central section being sub-divided into a hull vertically into two equal semi-circular sections and one central rectangular section, each semi-circular section being subdivided into a series of semi-circular recesses and the central sec-tion into a series of rectangular recesses, said skeleton framework gradually decreasing in width toward its rear end wherebyA a streamline effect is produced in the completed structure.

4. In an arship, a skeleton framework of sectional construction whose main longitudinal member is a box girder centrally located and extending vertically to the full height of the hull and understructnre, thereby dividing the hull into two semi-circular side sections suitably sub-divided for the reception of gas cells and a central and rectangular section specially adapted for receiving cells for air ballast and for surplus gas storage, said main box girder being diminished in width from front end to back end in order toattain a proper streamline for the entire length of the hull.

In an airship, a skeleton framework including a centrally arranged box girder. containers for air arranged within said box girder and containers for gas arranged in the skeleton framework to the sides of said box girder.

6. In an airship. a skeleton framework including a centrally arranged box girder, containers for air arranged within said box girder, containers for gas arranged in the skeleton framework to the sides of said box girder, and means for charging said containers with air and gas, respectively.

7. In anvairship of the rigid structure type, a skeleton framework including a pair of longitudinally and vertically disposed converging trusses extending to the full height and length of the entire structure and rigidly connected to each other so as to form a box girder, integral extensions extending from said box girder for containing the operating and controlling mechanism ofthe airship, a series of vertical semi-circular ribs on 'cach yside of said box girder and rigidly attached to same and to each other, the wliole forming two series of vertical semi-circular recesses in the side portions and a single series ofrectangular recesses in the central portion. v

8. The combination in an airship having a skeletonv frame and adapted to relv exclusively upon air ballast, of air ballast means for operating said arship, which air ballast means includes collapsible containers meegaan' that are external' to the dotation gas con- I tainers and are arranged in separate and independent compartments 1n the 4framework of the airship, said containers being adapted tainers, and means for controlling the admii-'sion of air into and the discharge of air from said containers.

9. .ln an airship adapted4 to rely exclusively upon air ballast, a collapsible air ballast container external to the containers -for flotation gas and havingl its lower portion sccured'to parts of the airship, inlet and outlet connections for said container, and

gravity means for effecting the collapse of said container when the air is released therefrom.

1U. In an airsliip, an elongated framework .arranged in the rows of pockets to the sides of said centrally arranged-row.

11. In an airship, an elon ated framework in which is formed a centra ly arranged row of pockets andrews of pockets to the sides of said centrally 'arranged row, self-deflating air ballast bags arranged in the central row of pockets, gas containers arranged in the rows of pockets to the sides `of said centrally arranged row, means for delivering air under pressure into said air ballast bags, and means for delivering gas into said gas containers. 12. In an airship, a framework composed of assembled sections of tubing, a bushing inserted in the adjacent ends of the tubular sections of said framework, and a split cap inclosing the adjacent ends of said tubular sections and the inserted bushing.

13. In an airship, a framework composed of assembled sections of tubing, a bushing inserted in the adjacent ends of a pair of the tubular sections of said framework, av

split cap inclosing the adjacent ends of said tubular sections and the inserted bushing, and means for rigidly connecting the parts of the split cap to each other.

14. In an airship, a framework composed -of assembled sections of tubing, abushing inserted in the adjacent ends of a pair of the tubular sections of said framework, a4

`substantially hollow frame members comrisinfr an internal member corres Ondine' in Ashape to that of the completed joint, portions of which member are inserted in the end ortions of the hollow members, a divided) member i-nclosing those portions of the hollow members that inclose parts of said internal member, and dowell ins seated in said divided member, the ho low members and said internal member.

17. In an airship of the rigid structure type, a skeleton framework ineludin a pair of longitudinally and vertically isposed trusses extending to the full height and length of the entire structure and rigidly connected to each otherso as to form a box girder, a series of Vertical semi-circular ribs on each side of said box girder and rigidly connected to the same and to each other, the whole forming two seriesl of vertical semicircnlar recesses in the side portions and a single series of rectangular recesses in the central portion, the mentioned pair of main vertical trusses having substantially vertical extensions in continuation thereof for containing the operating and controlling .mechanisms and the cabins in a manner to assure the rigidity of the entire frame as a substantially integral structure.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this Specification.

S. V. TRENT. 

